Patrick Mullins is aiming for 1,000 career winners after achieving his 900th success aboard Jimmy Du Seuil in the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse.
Although Mullins is an amateur rider, his career includes nine Cheltenham Festival winners, multiple Grade One strikes and a famous success in this year’s Grand National, when he teamed up with Nick Rockett – who is trained by his father Willie – for a famous Aintree victory.
Mullins was crowned amateur a record 17 times in Ireland, dispatched Jimmy Du Seuil to victory on his chasing bow and was delighted to achieve another historic win.
He said: “It’s great to get it, I want to reach 1,000 (winners).
“I met Stan Mellor’s wife Elain in London. He was the first to ride 1,000 and she told me he rode his last winner for my grandfather with Herring Gull in the Prix des Drags.”
Willie Mullins-trained Jimmy Du Seuil was last seen winning the Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March, beating Friday’s Long Distance Hurdle winner Impose Toi by three lengths.
That run was enough to see him dismissed the 15-8 favorite at Fairyhouse and Mullins was impressed with his performance in beating last season’s runner-up Albert Bartlett, The Big Westerner, by four lengths.
He added: “He jumped brilliantly, and it looks like he might even be a better hunter than a hurdler.
“He beat them easily. Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus were defeated in this rookie pursuit and Impaire Et Passe won.
“We always thought he was a class 1 horse and hopefully he can become one.
“When Danny (Mullins) and Paul (Townend) were away (at Newbury and Newcastle respectively) I thought it was better to ride one of them. I have to apologize to Brian Hayes for nicking him, I thought he stood out.”
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